Take-up reel

ABSTRACT

A take-up reel which includes a pair of flanges with a hollow hub mounted between the flanges. Means are provided for clamping a magnetic tape disposed within said hub. The tape clamping means comprises a pair of clamping members which each have a roller that engage each other and with one end of each of the clamping members being pivoted to one of the pair of flanges. Springs bias each of the clamping members together such that the rollers clamp a magnetic tape to hold it.

United States Patent Umeda et al.

[ 1 Mar. 14, 1972 [54] TAKE-UP REEL [72] Inventors: Saburo Umeda; Tokio Kizuka; Kiyoshi Iwai; Susumu Tsunoda; Hideaki Hayashi, all of Mitaka-shi, Tokyo, Japan [73 Assignee: Nippon Columbia Kabushikikaisha,

Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: July 18, 1969 I21] Appl. No.: 843,121

Related US. Application Data {62] Division of Ser. No. 698,773, Jan. 18, 1968, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl ..242/74.2 [51] Int. Cl ..B65h 75/28 [58] Field of Search ..242/74.2, 74.1, 74, 71.8, 195

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,236,474 2/1966 Day ..242/74 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,330,790 5/1963 France ..242/74.i 755,502 8/1956 GreatBritain ..242/74.2

Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Milton Gerstein Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT A take-up reel which includes a pair of flanges with a hollow hub mounted between the flanges. Means are provided for clamping a magnetic tape disposed within said hub. The tape clamping means comprises a pair of clamping members which each have a roller that engage each other and with one end of each of the clamping members being pivoted to one of the pair of flanges. Springs bias each of the clamping members together such that the rollers clamp a magnetic tape to hold it.

5 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures PATENFEWR 14 I972 3, 648.945.

SHEET 0% [1F 10 INNEN'TORS mw, 4 5 7 ATTYS.

TAKE-UP REEL CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a division of our copending application Ser. No. 698,773, filed Jan.-l8, 1968 now US. Pat. No. 3,593,944.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an automatic tape playback apparatus in which cartridges loaded with recorded tapes are piled up in order of a program and the tapes are automatically played back one after another. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an automatic tape playback apparatus which is adapted so that a plurality of cartridges piled up in order are automatically brought to right and left playback positions; each cartridge is automatically put in its operative condition; one end portion of the tape wound on a reel in each cartridge is drawn out therefrom; the tape is automatically wound on an takeup reel for reproducing signals recorded on the tape and is thereafter rewound on the reel on the cartridge; and the cartridge is brought out of the playback position into a cartridge housing case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a takeup reel of a specific structure adapted for use in automatic tape playback apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a takeup reel with means for adjusting the position thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a takeup reel with a tape clamping means.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating, by way of example, a takeup reel used in this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXII- XXII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another example of the takeup reel usable in this invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the principal portion of the reel depicted in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the reel shown in FIG. 3, illustrating its condition when the tape is rewound;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the takeup reel of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining the operation of a tape clamper used in this invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view illustrating one example of means for controlling the rotational position of the takeup reel used in this invention;

FIG. 9 is its side view, partly in cross section FIGS. 10A to 10C are schematic diagrams for explaining the operation of the takeup reel at its rotational positions;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the tape clamper at its one position;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view illustrating one example of the tape clamper usable in this invention;

FIG. 13 is its perspective view;

FIG. 14 is a front view showing another example of the tape clamper usable in this invention;

FIG. 15 is its side view;

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a tape detecting means used in this invention;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the principal portion of the tape detecting means;

FIG. 18 is a front view showing one example of a contactor of the rotary arm of the tape detecting means depicted in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a drive device of a two-capstan drive system employed in this invention; and

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the drive device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the takeup reel 700 has a pair of flanges 700a and 700b. The lower flange 700a has on its center axis a shaft 701 extending downward, which shaft is coupled with a rotary shaft of a takeup motor 702. The upper flange 700b consists of two sectoral plates 704 and 705 which are arranged concentrically with the lower flange 700a and substantially symmetrically with respect to a straight line 703 passing the axis of the flange 700b in a radial direction. Reference numeral 706 indicates a central aperture of the flange 700b. The flanges 700a and 700b are fonnedintegral with each other in a manner to provide a bobbin 707 therebetween except at placescorresponding to the discontinuous portions defined by the sectoral plates 704 and 705. That is, the bobbin 707 is formed except a predetermined angular range about the line 703. Further, pins 708 and 709 are planted on the flange 700a at such positions as are point-symmetrical with each other relative to the axis of the flange within a space surrounded by the bobbin 707. The pins 708 and 709 have pivoted thereto tape clamp pieces 710 and 711.

The clamp pieces 710 and 711 are shaped in an arcuate configuration and are disposed with the peaks of their bent portions opposed to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition, these clamp pieces 710 and 711 are respectively biased by springs 712 and 713 normally to be urged into resilient contact with each other at the axis of the takeup reel 700. The shaft 701 has mounted thereon a cam plate 801 having a pair of parallel faces, crossing the line 703 at right angles thereto.

The takeup reel 700 exemplified in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be substituted with those illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, in which similar elements to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are identified by the similar reference numerals, and no detailed description will be given thereon.That is, a pair of pins 708 and 709 are planted on the lower flange 700a of the takeup reel 700 within its central aperture 706. The pins 708 and 709 are planted in parallel with the shaft 701, which have an angle Owith the line 703 and are located at positions dot-symmetrical relative to the shaft 701 on both sides of a line A'A passing the center axis 0 of the reel 700 and extending between the two sectoral plates 704 and 705 of the upper flange 700b. Further, clamp pieces 710 and 711 are similarly pivoted on the pins 708 and 709 at places dot-symmetrical relative to the shaft 701. In this case, the clamp pieces 710 and 711 are bent outwardly at one end. Biasing means 712 and 713 are provided in connection with the clamping pieces 710 and 711. The clamping. pieces 710 and 711 are pivoted at the respective ends of their bent portions on the pins 708 and 709. On either clamp piece, a pair of pins 714a and 714a or 71 1b and 7l4b' are provided which have rotatably mounted thereon a pair of rollers 715a and 715a or 7l5b and 7l5b' which are in meshing a rotary contact with each other. The clamp pieces 710 and 711 are respectively associated with press springs 716a and 7 16b and are thereby biased in a clockwise direction in the figure so that the rollers 715a and 715a are in resiliently meshing or rotary contact with the rollers 715b and 7l5b' on the line A-A'.

It is preferred to provide the clamp pieces 710 and 711 with means for limiting their rotational angular range, (namely rotational movement). The limiting means may be provided in the form of projections 717 and 718, which are planted on the free ends of the clamp pieces 710 and 711 and are engaged with arc-shaped apertures 719 and 720 formed through the flange 700a. Thus, the rotational angular range of the clamp pieces 710 and 711 can be limited by selecting the arc length of the arc-shaped apertures 719 and 720. The rollers 715a, 715a, 715b and7l5b' may take the form of rollers having knurled peripheral surfaces or elastic rubber rollers which get in frictionally rotating contact with one another.

In order to take up the tape 315 on the takeup reel 700, the reel 700 is rotated in a direction against the biasing forces of the springs 716a and 7l6b of the clamp pieces 710 and 711, namely in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by an arrow a in FIG. 23. At the same time, the clamp pieces 710 and 711 are respectively spread out in the counterclockwise direction against the biasing forces of the springs 716a and 716b, and then one end 315a of the tape 315 is inserted and gripped between the rollers 715a and 715b and between 715a and 715b of the clamp pieces 710 and 71 1. Under such conditions the reel 700 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, at the start of the winding of the tape on the bobbin 707 a force is rendered to one clamp piece 710 by the tape 315 but this force is applied to the piece 710 in the vicinity of its fulcrum, namely the pin 708, and consequently the clamp piece 710 hardly rotates to ensure that the tape end portion 315a is held in position between the rollers 715a and 715b and between 715a and 715b.

Let it be assumed that the tape 315 is pulled in a direction as indicated by Z, to slip out of position between the rollers 715a and 715b and between 715a and 715b, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In such a case, the rollers, for example, 715a and 715b, are caused to rotate in directions indicated by arrows by the pulling force of the tape 315, but since the rollers 715a and 715b are in meshing or rotating contact with the rollers 715a and 715b respectively, the rollers 715a and 715b are thereby rotated in a direction to pull in the tape 315 therebetween, namely in a direction opposite to the arrow Z. In this manner, the tape end portion 315a is not pulled out of position between the rollers 715a and 715b and between 715a and 715b and is held in position therebetween.

Then, a description will be given in connection with the case where the tape 315 is drawn out from the takeup reel 700 by rewinding. In this case the takeup reel 700 is rotated in a clockwise direction as indicated by an arrow a, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and accordingly when the tape 315 has been entirely paid out from the reel 700 at least one clamp piece 710 is pulled by the tape 315 against the spring 716a in the counterclockwise direction. The point of application of the force exerted upon the clamp piece 710 by the tape 315 is fully spaced from the pin 708 planted on the free end of the clamp piece 710 which serves as the fulcrum of its rotational movement. Accordingly, the clamp piece 710 effectively turns on the pin 708 against the spring 716a to disengage the rollers 715a and 715a of the clamp piece 710 from those 715b and 715b of the other clamp piece 711, with the result that the tape end portion 315a is easily pulled out from between the rollers 715a and 71512 and between 715a and 715b.

As has been described in the foregoing, the particular construction of this invention facilitates and ensures engagement and disengagement of the tape 315 with or from the takeup reel 700, and hence is of particular utility when employed in a magnetic recording and reproducing device for an automatic la er.

p I: FIG. 7 there is illustrated another example of the reel positioning means, which performs the same function as that of the adjusting means 800 exemplified in FIG. of application Ser. No. 698,773, and FIGS. 1 and 2 of the present application but in which a cam is coupled with the rod 802 depicted in FIG. 20 of application Ser. No. 698,773, and the face of the cam 801 mounted on the reel shaft 701 in FIG. 20 of application Ser. No. 698,773, is shaped in such a configuration as permits its engagement with the newly provided cam.

Assume that the takeup reel 700 is placed in such a position that its clamp pieces 710a and 710b lie opposite to each other across the line 703 at locations where the line A and the line 703 overlap each other, as depicted in FIG. 7. Under such conditions, the clamper 900 lying above the takeup reel 700 is brought to the cartridge 300 by rotation of the screw rod 621 passing over the reel 700 and clamps or picks up the tape 315 projecting in the recess 313, thereafter being brought back to the takeup reel 700. Then, the clamper 900 spreads out the opposed clamp pieces 710a and 710b and draws the tape 315 therebetween, and releases the tape 315 after having passed the clamp pieces 710a and 710b, thus holding the tape 315 therebetween. Following this, the clamper 900 is brought to a position independent of the rotational movement of the takeup reel 700. Accordingly, when the end portion 315a of the tape wound on the cartridge 300 has been engaged with the takeup reel 700, the pinch roller 604 is urged into rotating contact with the capstan 1101 and the takeup reel 700 is driven, by which the take 315 is taken up on the takeup reel 700 while being drawn across the magnetic head 602. In this manner, automatic winding of the tape is accomplished.

With the above arrangement, the takeup reel 700 must be always put in the illustrated condition that the lines A and 703 overlap each other as depicted. The reel positioning means for the takeup reel 700 will hereinbelow be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, in which similar elements to the aforementioned ones are identified by similar reference numerals and no detailed description will be given in connection therewith. As depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rotary shaft 701 of the takeup reel 700 has mounted thereon a cam 801 having a pair of cam faces 801a and 80117 which are symmetrical relative to a line Y-Y passing the shaft 701. While, a shaft 805 pivoted on a base plate (not shown) has mounted thereon a drive cam 807 having a cam face 806 for engagement with the cam faces 801a and 8010f the cam 801. The drive cam 807 is rotated from the outside to turn the cam 801 and the rotary shaft 701, by which the takeup reel 700 is brought to such a position that the line A overlaps the line 703. In this case the cam face 806 of the drive cam 807 has an arc-shaped face about its rotary shaft 805 and the cam faces 801a and 801b of the cam 801 have concave faces of the same curvature as that of the arc-shaped cam face 807. Further, both end faces of the cam faces 801a and 801b of the cam 801 provide cam faces 808a and 808b, 8080 and 808d extending in the axial direction on the line Y-Y.

Consequently, when the cam 801 is at a rotational position such as shown in FIGS. 10A or 108, one end of the cam face 806 of the drive cam 807 engages with the cam face 808c (or 808b) or 808d (or 808a) of the cam 801 to turn the cam 801, with the result that the cam face 801a or 801b of the cam 801 snugly engages with the cam face 806 of the drive 807. Under such conditions, even if the drive cam 807 turns, the cam 801 rotates no more but assumes a position shown in FIG. 8 where the line Y-Y crosses the line A at right angles thereto. Thus, the cam 801 is brought to a position where the line A overlaps the line 703.

In the foregoing there is a possibility that when the earn 801 assumes a position illustrated in FIG. 10C such that either one of top ends 809a and 809b of the cam 801 engages with one end of the drive cam 807, smooth rotational movement of the cam 801 may be inhibited by the relation of the line of action of the drive cam 807 to the earn 801. To avoid this, a rotary disc 810 is mounted on the rotary shaft 701 integrally with or separately from the cam 801, on which disc is planted a pair of pins 810a and 81012 symmetrically with respect to the shaft 701. While, an engaging member 811 is attached to the cam 807, and when the top end 809a or 809!) of the cam 801 is about to get in contact with one end of the drive cam 807 the engaging member 811 engages with the pin 810a or 8101) prior to the engagement of the cam 801 with the drive cam 807, thereby slightly turning the rotary shaft 701 and consequently the cam 801. That is, the earn 801 is shifted from the position of full line to that indicated by a broken line, as illustrated in FIG. 10C.

As is apparent from the foregoing, with the above construction, the takeup reel 700 can automatically be brought to the automatic playback position and the positioning of the reel 700 can be effected by a very simple construction with high accuracy.

Although the above construction has been described in connection with the control of the positioning of the specific takeup reel 700 described with FIG. 7, it can be applied to the positioning of the takeup reel for the purpose of bringing the starting or terminating end of the tape to a specific position. Accordingly, reference to the above-described takeup reel 700 should not be construed as limiting this invention specifically thereto.

We claim as out invention:

1. A takeup reel comprising a pair of flanges, a hollow hub disposed between said pair of flanges, one of said pair of flanges and said hub being divided into two portions, a means for clamping a magnetic tape disposed within said hub, said tape clamping means comprising a pair of clamping pieces each having a pair of rollers, each roller being rotatably contacted with each other, one end of each clamping piece being pivoted to one of said pair of flanges, a pair of spring means each biasing each of said clamping pieces to cause contact between said pair of rollers of one of said clamping pieces and said pair of rollers of the other clamping piece so as to hold therebetween a magnetic tape.

2. A takeup reel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said rollers is provided with serrations on its outer surface.

3. A takeup reel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pair of clamping pieces is provided with a projection at its free end and an arc-shaped aperture is formed in one of said pair of flanges, and said projection being engaged in said arc-shaped aperture.

4. A takeup reel comprising a pair of flanges, a hollow hub disposed between said pair of flanges, one of said pair of flanges and said hub being divided into two portions, a clamping means consisting of a pair of movable clamping pieces for clamping a magnetic tape, said pair of clamping pieces being located in said hollow hub such that they are on opposite sides of the center of said hub, and biasing means for biasing said pair of clamping pieces together to hold a magnetic tape.

5. A takeup reel as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said pair of clamping pieces is bent outwardly at one end thereof.

* t IF iiii 

1. A take-up reel comprising a pair of flanges, a hollow hub disposed between said pair of flanges, one of said pair of flanges and said hub being divided into two protions, a means for clamping a magnetic tape disposed within said hub, said tape clamping means comprising a pair of clamping pieces each having a pair of rollers, each roller being rotatably contacted with each other, one end of each clamping piece being pivoted to one of said pair of flanges, a pair of spring means each biasing each of said clamping pieces to cause contact between said pair of rollers of one of said clamping pieces and said pair of rollers of the other clamping piece so as to hold therebetween a magnetic tape.
 2. A take-up reel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said rollers is provided with serrations on its outer surface.
 3. A take-up reel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pair of clamping pieces is provided with a projection at its free end and an arc-shaped aperture is formed in one of said pair of flanges, and said projection being engaged in said arc-shaped aperture.
 4. A take-up reel comprising a pair of flanges, a hollow hub disposed between said pair of flanges, one of said pair of flanges and said hub being divided into two portions, a clamping means consisting of a pair of movable clamping pieces for clamping a magnetic tape, said pair of clamping pieces being located in said hollow hub such that they are on opposite sides of the center of said hub, and biasing means for biasing said pair of clamping pieceS together to hold a magnetic tape.
 5. A take-up reel as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said pair of clamping pieces is bent outwardly at one end thereof. 